UK – London‘s university halls of residence recycling project

The London‘‘s University Halls of Residence Recycling Project aims to improve waste management and increase recycling facilities in halls of residence in London Universities and to raise awareness on waste reduction and reuse within the student population. The project will cover all 39 London Universities, 164 Halls of Residence, 33 London Boroughs and 5 Waste Disposal Authorities. The project is managed by the Greater London Authority in partnership with CRISP and funded by the London Recycling Fund. The project started in December 2004 and will run until March 2006.



The Outcomes



Approximately 200 implementation plans will be written to outline how Universities, Local Authorities and London Waste Authorities can work together to raise awareness and practice of recycling, reuse and waste minimisation amongst London‘‘s student population.



Implementation Plans



The implementation plans will include the University profile, the Local Authority profile, an estimate of the potential waste that can be recycled and reused at individual halls of residence, maps and site location plans, resource and cost implications and information on available networks and support. The implementation plans will also signpost potential sponsors and sources of funding to facilitate implementation. Other information will include details of existing facilities and service arrangements, information on how to publicise and encourage use of recycling services, how to put mechanisms in place to hold reuse events and how to raise awareness about waste reduction. The implementation plan will also highlight other issues such as green procurement to help guide future developments.



Official launch of the project



The Greater London Authority (GLA) and CRISP hosted the official launch of the project on 9 March 2005.





Why Recycling in London‘‘s University Halls of Residence?



The introduction (and or expansion) of recycling facilities into London‘‘s University halls of residence will help London meet and exceed the recycling targets for household waste set by the Government. The national target for 2006 is to recycle at least 25 per cent of all household waste In order to deliver this national target all 33 London Boroughs have been set statutory household recycling targets.



What is the Recycling Potential?



Waste from halls of residence is a relatively untapped area of potential recyclable materials. Some halls of residence do provide recycling facilities but they are not extensive and sometimes are not used to maximum effect. Students living in halls of residence are a captive audience that can be targeted at key times for influencing their behaviour. Students are away from home, often for the first time, and are governed by various rules in respect of their accommodation and general university life. There is therefore a great opportunity for recycling to be communicated as something that is to be carried out as an integral part of everyday University life. Habitual behaviour undertaken at University will then be more likely to be continued in life post University, especially with the improvements in service provision being undertaken in London and across the country.



What is the Reuse Potential?



McLaren House is one of four halls of residence in London South Bank University, located just minutes away from the main campus at Elephant and Castle in central London. It is home to 614 students. McLaren House functions as a pilot project for other halls of residence in London since it initiated reuse and recycling activities in 1999. Besides recycling services, McLaren House implemented a reuse-project that allowed departing students to donate their unwanted furniture, clothes and food to local charities or to new arriving students. The money raised by selling donated items back to new arrivals (at very low cost) wa